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L'estate del coniglio nero
È un’estate torrida e Pete ha già passato diverse settimane senza fare altro che ciondolare per casa. Fino a quando una telefonata gli cambia la vita per sempre. È Nicole, gli chiede di vedersi. Presto si separeranno, ognuno per la propria strada, il college, Parigi... Sarebbe bello incontrarsi per l’ultima volta con il gruppo dei vecchi amici, solo loro quattro: Pete, Nicole, Eric e Pauly. Pete le chiede di Raymond, anche lui è un vecchio amico, fa parte del gruppo. È vero, è un tipo strano, sembra vivere in un mondo tutto suo al cui centro c’è un coniglio nero; ma Pete gli è molto legato e vuole che sia con loro. Quella notte, però, quando si trovano al luna park, Raymond scompare. E anche Stella Ross, una ragazza del loro liceo diventata famosa. Tutti pensano che i due eventi siano collegati, che Raymond lo strano sia il colpevole. Pete vuole dimostrare a ogni costo che si sbagliano, ma quando segreti, rancori e vecchie gelosie mettono gli amici uno contro l'altro, anche le sue certezze cominciano a incrinarsi...
427 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2008
49 people are currently reading
1515 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Brooks
75 books878 followersKevin Brooks was born in 1959 and grew up in Exeter, Devon, England. He studied Psychology and Philosophy at Birmingham, Aston University in 1980 and Cultural Studies in London in 1983. Kevin Brooks has been in a variety of jobs including: musician, gasoline station attendant, crematorium handyman, civil service clerk, hot dog vendor at the London Zoo, post office clerk, and railway ticket office clerk.
Kevin Brooks's writing career started with the publication of Martyn Pig in 2002 through The Chicken House which won the Branford Boase Award 2003 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. He also wrote Lucas (2002) which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and Booktrust Teenage Prize in 2003 also winning the North East Book Award in 2004.
In 2004 he published Kissing the Rain and Bloodline and I See You, Baby and Candy in 2005. In 2006 he published 3 books including: Johnny Delgado Series - Like Father, Like Son and Private Detective as well as The Road of the Dead; a standalone novel. In February 2008 he published the standalone book Black Rabbit Summer.
As a child, Kevin Brooks enjoyed reading detective novels. He writes most plots of the various books he has written around crime fiction. He likes mystery and suspence and enjoys putting both of those components into each and every story he writes in some shape or form.
Kevin Brooks's writing career started with the publication of Martyn Pig in 2002 through The Chicken House which won the Branford Boase Award 2003 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. He also wrote Lucas (2002) which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and Booktrust Teenage Prize in 2003 also winning the North East Book Award in 2004.
In 2004 he published Kissing the Rain and Bloodline and I See You, Baby and Candy in 2005. In 2006 he published 3 books including: Johnny Delgado Series - Like Father, Like Son and Private Detective as well as The Road of the Dead; a standalone novel. In February 2008 he published the standalone book Black Rabbit Summer.
As a child, Kevin Brooks enjoyed reading detective novels. He writes most plots of the various books he has written around crime fiction. He likes mystery and suspence and enjoys putting both of those components into each and every story he writes in some shape or form.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
March 31, 2011
I recently remembered I read this book, but forgot what it was about and such. So, I decided to venture into the reviews, which were all following some sort of status quo: vote two stars, rave about Raymond, call the rest of the book total shit, etc. However, I will have to go against this, because as soon as I remembered the plot, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia and instantly said, "I really liked this book." I loved Pete as a character, maybe even more than I liked Raymond. The book was realistic; as shown by the comments before mine, a lot of people complained that SPOILER Raymond was never found. Unfortunately, when teens are reported as missing, they don't just come back. The author obviously describes that Raymond's a bit of a nut, so that should be a pretty good reason as to why he's gone. Brooks gave his characters an eerie sort of freedom -- Raymond is a mystery and the essence of him lingers on after you turn the final page. For those who loved Raymond and hoped to see him return (or something), you were filled with anticipation and anxiety, much like a worried parent. You hoped to find some sort of news, but it never really came. Everything felt like a hint, but the hints never went anywhere. In my eyes, Raymond is represented as the kid who's always there for you, but is also neglected and therefore never appreciated until he is gone.
For anyone looking to read this book, you really should. Ignore the 2-star ratings! Kevin Brooks is brilliant, and the novel is both haunting and sexy, wrapped in an enigma. It really wouldn't hurt to give it a read (:
For anyone looking to read this book, you really should. Ignore the 2-star ratings! Kevin Brooks is brilliant, and the novel is both haunting and sexy, wrapped in an enigma. It really wouldn't hurt to give it a read (:
October 24, 2023
L'estate del coniglio nero è stata una lettura che mi ha letteralmente catturato dalle primissime pagine, mi è stato difficile riporlo e non leggerlo tutto d'un fiato, perchè nonostante alcuni difetti, questo libro andrebbe letto in un sol boccone.
Le 400 e poco più di pagine, non le ho proprio sentite, perchè le pagine scorrevano via che nemmeno me ne sono accorto ed arrivato al finale, un po' ne sento la mancanza.
La storia è incentrata sull'amicizia, sui ricordi, la vicinanza o la lontananza, l'identità, la vergogna e sulla crescita personale. Dato che i protagonisti sono tutti degli adolescenti nel pieno dello sviluppo fisico e mentale, il tutto prende ancora più significato.
La scrittura, come dicevo sopra, mi ha coinvolto da subito, una capacità narrativa di grande spessore e di quella ricerca nel voler sondare la psiche umana, in un periodo della vita dove gli sconvolgimenti interiori si devono, per forza, confrontare con quelli esterni, molte volte crudeli e sconvolgenti.
Primo libro che leggo dell'autore e non sarà sicuramente l'ultimo.
Le 400 e poco più di pagine, non le ho proprio sentite, perchè le pagine scorrevano via che nemmeno me ne sono accorto ed arrivato al finale, un po' ne sento la mancanza.
La storia è incentrata sull'amicizia, sui ricordi, la vicinanza o la lontananza, l'identità, la vergogna e sulla crescita personale. Dato che i protagonisti sono tutti degli adolescenti nel pieno dello sviluppo fisico e mentale, il tutto prende ancora più significato.
La scrittura, come dicevo sopra, mi ha coinvolto da subito, una capacità narrativa di grande spessore e di quella ricerca nel voler sondare la psiche umana, in un periodo della vita dove gli sconvolgimenti interiori si devono, per forza, confrontare con quelli esterni, molte volte crudeli e sconvolgenti.
Primo libro che leggo dell'autore e non sarà sicuramente l'ultimo.
October 25, 2023
☆☆☆,5
❗️Questa recensione potrebbe urtare gli animi più sensibili ❗️
«I nostri futuri sono infiniti. In ogni secondo di ogni giorno, noi scegliamo dove andare. E ogni volta che scegliamo, un altro aspetto di noi... un altro sé... fa una scelta diversa.»
Credo di aver letto le ultime 100 pagine senza staccare gli occhi dal libro per un secondo.
Ero talmente assorta dalla storia che ho dimenticato tutto....però ho ricordato un avvenimento che avrei preferito tener ben chiuso nei ricordi...
Era il 2011 se non ricordo male, era il 2 novembre quando, fuori dall'azienda dove lavoravo, arriva un uomo e ci spiega che suo figlio non sarebbe più venuto al lavoro perché si era tolto la vita.
Cazzo!
Potete immaginare (o forse è meglio di no) lo stato in cui ci siamo ritrovati. Tra l'incredulità e lo sgomento abbiamo fermato il padre di Francesco. Volevamo sapere com'era possibile. Francesco stava bene fino ad un paio di giorni prima. Si, era un ragazzo taciturno, sempre un po' sulle sue, ma se lo sapevi prendere rideva e scherzava.
Bhe, Francesco ha deciso di togliersi la vita in un bosco vicino casa sua il 31 di ottobre. Sulla sua morte ne hanno dette molte, hanno parlato di riti satanici perché Fra suonava in un gruppo metal. Hanno parlato di pene d'amore perché aveva mandato un messaggio alla ragazza dove l' avvisava che si sarebbe tolto la vita.
Ma forse Fra aveva solo bisogno di essere ascoltato e capito. Forse non si sentiva adeguato, forse era stanco, forse forse forse....forse nessuno lo conosceva e nessuno saprà mai il perché.
Perché anche se credi di conoscere qualcuno non lo conoscerai mai davvero.
Francesco aveva 25 anni.
In questo libro c'è l'ansia di diventare grandi, la trasformazione delle amicizie, la vergogna di essere giudicati, l'uso inconsapevole di droghe.
Forse c'è un po' troppa "BRODA", ma non mi è per nulla dispiaciuto, la scrittura è molto scorrevole ed ho in libreria già un altro volume di questo autore, quindi chissà se scalerà la pila della vergogna e passerà ai primi posti...
Ormai le letture a tema CONIGLIO sono parte essenziale della mia lista.
Se c'è di mezzo un coniglio io devo leggerlo. Quindi se avete consigli con conigli...
❗️Questa recensione potrebbe urtare gli animi più sensibili ❗️
«I nostri futuri sono infiniti. In ogni secondo di ogni giorno, noi scegliamo dove andare. E ogni volta che scegliamo, un altro aspetto di noi... un altro sé... fa una scelta diversa.»
Credo di aver letto le ultime 100 pagine senza staccare gli occhi dal libro per un secondo.
Ero talmente assorta dalla storia che ho dimenticato tutto....però ho ricordato un avvenimento che avrei preferito tener ben chiuso nei ricordi...
Era il 2011 se non ricordo male, era il 2 novembre quando, fuori dall'azienda dove lavoravo, arriva un uomo e ci spiega che suo figlio non sarebbe più venuto al lavoro perché si era tolto la vita.
Cazzo!
Potete immaginare (o forse è meglio di no) lo stato in cui ci siamo ritrovati. Tra l'incredulità e lo sgomento abbiamo fermato il padre di Francesco. Volevamo sapere com'era possibile. Francesco stava bene fino ad un paio di giorni prima. Si, era un ragazzo taciturno, sempre un po' sulle sue, ma se lo sapevi prendere rideva e scherzava.
Bhe, Francesco ha deciso di togliersi la vita in un bosco vicino casa sua il 31 di ottobre. Sulla sua morte ne hanno dette molte, hanno parlato di riti satanici perché Fra suonava in un gruppo metal. Hanno parlato di pene d'amore perché aveva mandato un messaggio alla ragazza dove l' avvisava che si sarebbe tolto la vita.
Ma forse Fra aveva solo bisogno di essere ascoltato e capito. Forse non si sentiva adeguato, forse era stanco, forse forse forse....forse nessuno lo conosceva e nessuno saprà mai il perché.
Perché anche se credi di conoscere qualcuno non lo conoscerai mai davvero.
Francesco aveva 25 anni.
In questo libro c'è l'ansia di diventare grandi, la trasformazione delle amicizie, la vergogna di essere giudicati, l'uso inconsapevole di droghe.
Forse c'è un po' troppa "BRODA", ma non mi è per nulla dispiaciuto, la scrittura è molto scorrevole ed ho in libreria già un altro volume di questo autore, quindi chissà se scalerà la pila della vergogna e passerà ai primi posti...
Ormai le letture a tema CONIGLIO sono parte essenziale della mia lista.
Se c'è di mezzo un coniglio io devo leggerlo. Quindi se avete consigli con conigli...
November 22, 2023
Avevo già imparato a conoscere Brooks con Bunker Diary, che mi aveva colpito molto sia per la caratterizzazione dei personaggi sia per la durezza di una storia così verosimile e sconvolgente. Un libro davvero forte e per certi versi estremo (mi aveva stupito molto scoprire che fosse considerato un romanzo "per ragazzi").
Riepilogando, i tratti più evidenti e riconoscibili di Bunker diary (e di conseguenza dell'autore in generale) erano risultati questi: uno stile scorrevole e coinvolgente, una caratterizzazione molto accentuata dei personaggi, una trama per certi versi "estrema".
Sono tutti elementi che ho ritrovato anche in questo libro. Il problema è che, al di là dello stile, che risulta appunto molto funzionale e induce a una lettura partecipata e appassionata, gli altri due aspetti, a loro volta presenti, questa volta stonano.
In un contesto atipico come quello del precedente libro, l'estremizzazione funzionava a meraviglia, mentre qui, calata in un contesto che almeno in partenza risulta quotidiano e "normale", mi ha portato a una continua messa in discussione della sospensione dell'incredulità.
I personaggi, in particolare il protagonista Pete, sono presentati come adolescenti tutto sommato normali, ma il loro comportamento successivo smentisce continuamente questa presunta quotidianità. Pete per tutto il tempo è puntualmente presentato con aggettivi che lo descrivono come "estraniato", "fuori di testa", "allucinato". Capisco in alcuni passaggi in cui la cosa è coerente col contesto, ma utilizzata in modo così pervasivo l'ho trovata una caratterizzazione poco credibile e in un certo senso "sensazionalistica".
Anche gli altri personaggi si rivelano una estremizzazione di alcuni caratteri dell'adolescenza e ho finito per trovarli in definitiva un po' caricaturali. Discorso a parte per gli adulti, presentati come macchiette assolutamente ininfluenti nel corso della vicenda (problema che affligge diversi prodotti per ragazzi, non solo in ambito letterario).
Ci mancherebbe, è un parere personalissimo e stiamo comunque parlando di un horror, per quanto young adult, per cui in generale è assolutamente lecito che i personaggi si comportino in modi al di fuori della normalità. Ma, al contrario di Bunker diary, in questo caso ho trovato il tutto molto forzato.
Come dicevo, anche la trama non mi ha colpito favorevolmente. Le dinamiche sono abbastanza banali e personalmente non ho trovato una correlazione tra i fatti che porti coerentemente alla risoluzione finale. Mi è sembrato si sia voluto puntare su qualcosa che potesse colpire la sensibilità e scioccare. Ma mentre nell'altro libro la cosa funzionava a meraviglia, qui l'unica reazione che ho avuto è stato un continuo scuotimento di testa per l'alta improbabilità del tutto.
Do comunque due stelline, perché a mio parere Brooks è un eccellente narratore e, nonostante lo scarso gradimento e la dimensione del libro, la lettura non è mai pesata. Per quelli che sono i miei gusti, però, a questo giro ha toppato, ma gli garantirò sicuramente un'altra possibilità, visto quanto mi era piaciuto Bunker diary! :)
Riepilogando, i tratti più evidenti e riconoscibili di Bunker diary (e di conseguenza dell'autore in generale) erano risultati questi: uno stile scorrevole e coinvolgente, una caratterizzazione molto accentuata dei personaggi, una trama per certi versi "estrema".
Sono tutti elementi che ho ritrovato anche in questo libro. Il problema è che, al di là dello stile, che risulta appunto molto funzionale e induce a una lettura partecipata e appassionata, gli altri due aspetti, a loro volta presenti, questa volta stonano.
In un contesto atipico come quello del precedente libro, l'estremizzazione funzionava a meraviglia, mentre qui, calata in un contesto che almeno in partenza risulta quotidiano e "normale", mi ha portato a una continua messa in discussione della sospensione dell'incredulità.
I personaggi, in particolare il protagonista Pete, sono presentati come adolescenti tutto sommato normali, ma il loro comportamento successivo smentisce continuamente questa presunta quotidianità. Pete per tutto il tempo è puntualmente presentato con aggettivi che lo descrivono come "estraniato", "fuori di testa", "allucinato". Capisco in alcuni passaggi in cui la cosa è coerente col contesto, ma utilizzata in modo così pervasivo l'ho trovata una caratterizzazione poco credibile e in un certo senso "sensazionalistica".
Anche gli altri personaggi si rivelano una estremizzazione di alcuni caratteri dell'adolescenza e ho finito per trovarli in definitiva un po' caricaturali. Discorso a parte per gli adulti, presentati come macchiette assolutamente ininfluenti nel corso della vicenda (problema che affligge diversi prodotti per ragazzi, non solo in ambito letterario).
Ci mancherebbe, è un parere personalissimo e stiamo comunque parlando di un horror, per quanto young adult, per cui in generale è assolutamente lecito che i personaggi si comportino in modi al di fuori della normalità. Ma, al contrario di Bunker diary, in questo caso ho trovato il tutto molto forzato.
Come dicevo, anche la trama non mi ha colpito favorevolmente. Le dinamiche sono abbastanza banali e personalmente non ho trovato una correlazione tra i fatti che porti coerentemente alla risoluzione finale. Mi è sembrato si sia voluto puntare su qualcosa che potesse colpire la sensibilità e scioccare. Ma mentre nell'altro libro la cosa funzionava a meraviglia, qui l'unica reazione che ho avuto è stato un continuo scuotimento di testa per l'alta improbabilità del tutto.
Do comunque due stelline, perché a mio parere Brooks è un eccellente narratore e, nonostante lo scarso gradimento e la dimensione del libro, la lettura non è mai pesata. Per quelli che sono i miei gusti, però, a questo giro ha toppato, ma gli garantirò sicuramente un'altra possibilità, visto quanto mi era piaciuto Bunker diary! :)
September 16, 2012
This book is a coming-of-age crime-thriller for teenagers. I'm not a teenager, and I'm not really a fan of thrillers. This book isn't for me. And yet, I thought it was awesome.
The plot centres around of group of friends in their mid-teens. As with any decent thriller, there's sex, booze, drugs and missing people. I've often said that moral ambiguity is the key to any good story, and you'll find that in abundance here.
This book might be marketed to teenagers, but the quality of the writing is very high, better than most thrillers I've read that are aimed at adults. It cleverly interweaves a genuinely thrilling mystery with neat social commentary and acutely observed humour centred around the teenager-parent relationship. The plot is of it's time - it's only four years old, and many of the references are already dated - but the themes are timeless: rich versus poor, stereotypes versus reality, childhood versus adulthood.
There's a brilliant thread of hallucinations and psychiatric disturbance that runs through this novel - and there are key plot points to explain it. I mention this only because it demonstrates that this book deals with complex concepts, and uses really quite advanced literary techniques to make its points. It might be for teenagers, but there's no sense here of writing down to them. And it doesn't pull punches.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Black Rabbit Summer is the extraordinary and memorable ending. Of all the novels I've read lately, this has the strongest ending. And, again, it's not an ending you might expect from a book aimed at teens.
I didn't particularly relish reading this, but it completely surpassed my expectations. It is a teen novel, but that just means it's easy to read. It's a narratively tight well-written gripping novel. I'd recommend it to anyone.
The plot centres around of group of friends in their mid-teens. As with any decent thriller, there's sex, booze, drugs and missing people. I've often said that moral ambiguity is the key to any good story, and you'll find that in abundance here.
This book might be marketed to teenagers, but the quality of the writing is very high, better than most thrillers I've read that are aimed at adults. It cleverly interweaves a genuinely thrilling mystery with neat social commentary and acutely observed humour centred around the teenager-parent relationship. The plot is of it's time - it's only four years old, and many of the references are already dated - but the themes are timeless: rich versus poor, stereotypes versus reality, childhood versus adulthood.
There's a brilliant thread of hallucinations and psychiatric disturbance that runs through this novel - and there are key plot points to explain it. I mention this only because it demonstrates that this book deals with complex concepts, and uses really quite advanced literary techniques to make its points. It might be for teenagers, but there's no sense here of writing down to them. And it doesn't pull punches.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Black Rabbit Summer is the extraordinary and memorable ending. Of all the novels I've read lately, this has the strongest ending. And, again, it's not an ending you might expect from a book aimed at teens.
I didn't particularly relish reading this, but it completely surpassed my expectations. It is a teen novel, but that just means it's easy to read. It's a narratively tight well-written gripping novel. I'd recommend it to anyone.
April 17, 2010
Wow. Just when I thought something good would come out from this book, it went straight from being average to zero. Here's the thing, when you write about a certain character (a large portion of it), you expect the reader to care about the particular character. Well, for me at least. I did. I cared for Raymond. The rest of the character? Brooks could have written about them getting into a car accident and died. And I still wouldn't give a crap about them. Because I like the way Brooks describe Raymond as a friend, the only friend to Pete. That was the main factor that kept me glued to the book. The whole point of reading further was to find out WHAT REALLY HAPPEN TO RAYMOND?! But no, it went circling around between the cops and pete, back to the fortune teller, talking to a black rabbit, hearing whispering raymond, back to the fair, Pete's annoying desire of wanting to do nothing but stare at his bedroom ceiling (i think i've never been annoyed by a character as worst as pete). The next thing I know the whole mystery was dedicated to his old friends foolishness. Which I didn't even find it interesting whatever the hell the Kidnap-Ransom planning that they were involved in. Secret, Blackmail, Kidnap, Booze, Lust, Stupid, Accident. All that combined = Death. And yet, still nothing about Raymond. That is when the whole book starts losing its charm. Oh the 'best' part was, they dismissed Raymond!! - the only character i cared for. How could they just dismissed him like that from the book when clearly most of the time missing Raymond is always top on Pete's agenda? "Maybe Raymond was abducted. Maybe he just ran away. Maybe he's still out there somewhere. Maybe he's still alive. I don't know" Of course you don't know Pete, that's the whole point of a mystery book. You're suppose to unfold the mystery that's been lingering around this missing person. Black Rabbit Summer got me started but it definitely got me disappointed too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2012
What did I read?
January 14, 2014
Ever since I was a fifth grader, I read a book that changed my life. That book was Cryptid Hunters, by Roland Smith. A sci-fi twist of emotion, adventure and surprise - I laughed, I cried, I changed for the better as a person. I must have read and reread it a million times. Whatever. Amazingly, all my life until now (my junior year) this was the response to the oh-so-rarely-asked question, "What is your favorite book?"
Then I discovered Black Rabbit Summer. Now, sitting in the library on my own I tended to be rather curious about anything with a cover and a spine and words printed into yellowing pages. I surf endlessly through the YA Section, looking for something to get my hands on. At first, a book that caught my eye was Kissing the Rain, by the author Kevin Brooks. I didn't hesitate to pick it up because a) the title sounded awesome b) the summary sounded awesomer and c) the cover art was twice as awesome and told me this was to be a memorable kind of novel. And a few shelves down I found another book by the same author, much thicker and with a rather somber and straightforward cover of four teenagers. Summary looked okay. The title sounded freaking epic. So I shoved it under my arm - because why not.
Okay, so I never ever will ever regret that I read this book because DAMN, did I ever enjoy it!
Since The Fault in Our Stars, Cryptid Hunters, and David Copperfield, this is honestly the best book I have ever read. Number #2 on the chart, tops. It was fantastic - mystifying, spooky, thrilling, enticing. Oh wow.
I was up all night, reading under my covers with that clumsy iPod flashlight, and by the time I finished it it was 3 AM and I was a cross between shocked, amazed and blown away. Wow. Just. Wow.
Now, Raymond is another character I will shed some light upon. He has this one rabbit, with black fur, whom he loves immensely. This is our little king of the mysteries - Black Rabbit. Black Rabbit is something of a phenomenal creation, and can communicate with Raymond according to his claims. But to the ordinary onlooker, Black Rabbit is just Black Rabbit. Raymond though, is strange, quiet and a mystery too. And of course, he was a reject.
There was a party. Okay. No. A reunion gathering of the five friends. Pete and Ray. Nicole and Eric. And Pauly. Goddamn, Pauly... and oh boy, there was Wes Campell, who is like a cross between Jason and Slim Shady. The lethal antagonist of the book - or, so it seemed at first. But Raymond - it was because of him I felt an aching, gaping spot in my chest by the end of the book.
There really is no antagonist - not really.
There is no central enemy, nothing to fight but themselves and their guilt-ridden souls. The party was over as fast as it started. They went off into the carnival, separated. It was dark and the lights of the tilt-a-whirl and the roar of the roller coaster raised their senses up a notch. It was an accident. It wasn't meant to happen. Nobody saw it coming. It was a mean joke. It was an emotional overload. And it ended with murder, drenched in cold blood. And now it's either one of them - the five of them, that are suspected of the death.
So the book deals with media. It deals with violence. With drugs. With pain. With anger. With sexual dilemmas. With the whole coming-of-age, breaking-out-of-the-walnut-shell, raw kind of agony that breaks your soul. And, oh. My. God. Was it a thrill of a horror book. Some would call it mystery. Judging from the shivers it gives you past midnight under the covers, it's definitely something in the fear-sparking genre.
God. The feels of this novel were awesome. Not very fair, fulfilling or satisfactory, but right in that weird little trigger in your nerve cells that leave you with a book hangover for the rest of the day.
From the first page I was pulled in. And yeah. The rest of the day was spent forcing myself to tear away from the book to care to my bodily needs. I was befuddled in the end, around 4 in the morning. So many questions left unanswered. The case was amazing - a total shock to the conscience of the bookworm. I'm probably going to reread it. I needed a few days to recover after this baby, so if you have overdue library books waiting for you after this, I suggest you save it for a time you're ready to experience the full on power of Brook's unbelievable crime fiction.
5 full stars. No questions asked.
Then I discovered Black Rabbit Summer. Now, sitting in the library on my own I tended to be rather curious about anything with a cover and a spine and words printed into yellowing pages. I surf endlessly through the YA Section, looking for something to get my hands on. At first, a book that caught my eye was Kissing the Rain, by the author Kevin Brooks. I didn't hesitate to pick it up because a) the title sounded awesome b) the summary sounded awesomer and c) the cover art was twice as awesome and told me this was to be a memorable kind of novel. And a few shelves down I found another book by the same author, much thicker and with a rather somber and straightforward cover of four teenagers. Summary looked okay. The title sounded freaking epic. So I shoved it under my arm - because why not.
Okay, so I never ever will ever regret that I read this book because DAMN, did I ever enjoy it!
Since The Fault in Our Stars, Cryptid Hunters, and David Copperfield, this is honestly the best book I have ever read. Number #2 on the chart, tops. It was fantastic - mystifying, spooky, thrilling, enticing. Oh wow.
I was up all night, reading under my covers with that clumsy iPod flashlight, and by the time I finished it it was 3 AM and I was a cross between shocked, amazed and blown away. Wow. Just. Wow.
"The star's going out tonight," Raymond said quietly.
I stared at him. "What?"
He looked at me, his eyes pale and glassy. "Black Rabbit," he whispered, "That's what he said this afternoon - the star's going out tonight."
Unlike any thriller I have read by far, the plot weaves in and out of mystery, suspense and absolute horror. It's unusual and a new brand of spooky - a psychological kind of fear. Basically, it's about a worn out group of teenagers who have been friends for what seems like ages, and as the years pass by it seems that they have grown distant. Pete is our protagonist, and for once, I absolutely love the protagonist. Pete is so damn honest - he is beyond honest. About everything. His feelings. His fury. His suspicions. He observes everything with wariness but not with the naivety other characters do. Brooks brought in not only an intelligent perspective host, but intriguing suspense and mystery through the eyes of such a character. I was in awe of the way the story unraveled.
Now, Raymond is another character I will shed some light upon. He has this one rabbit, with black fur, whom he loves immensely. This is our little king of the mysteries - Black Rabbit. Black Rabbit is something of a phenomenal creation, and can communicate with Raymond according to his claims. But to the ordinary onlooker, Black Rabbit is just Black Rabbit. Raymond though, is strange, quiet and a mystery too. And of course, he was a reject.
There was a party. Okay. No. A reunion gathering of the five friends. Pete and Ray. Nicole and Eric. And Pauly. Goddamn, Pauly... and oh boy, there was Wes Campell, who is like a cross between Jason and Slim Shady. The lethal antagonist of the book - or, so it seemed at first. But Raymond - it was because of him I felt an aching, gaping spot in my chest by the end of the book.
There really is no antagonist - not really.
There is no central enemy, nothing to fight but themselves and their guilt-ridden souls. The party was over as fast as it started. They went off into the carnival, separated. It was dark and the lights of the tilt-a-whirl and the roar of the roller coaster raised their senses up a notch. It was an accident. It wasn't meant to happen. Nobody saw it coming. It was a mean joke. It was an emotional overload. And it ended with murder, drenched in cold blood. And now it's either one of them - the five of them, that are suspected of the death.
So the book deals with media. It deals with violence. With drugs. With pain. With anger. With sexual dilemmas. With the whole coming-of-age, breaking-out-of-the-walnut-shell, raw kind of agony that breaks your soul. And, oh. My. God. Was it a thrill of a horror book. Some would call it mystery. Judging from the shivers it gives you past midnight under the covers, it's definitely something in the fear-sparking genre.
God. The feels of this novel were awesome. Not very fair, fulfilling or satisfactory, but right in that weird little trigger in your nerve cells that leave you with a book hangover for the rest of the day.
From the first page I was pulled in. And yeah. The rest of the day was spent forcing myself to tear away from the book to care to my bodily needs. I was befuddled in the end, around 4 in the morning. So many questions left unanswered. The case was amazing - a total shock to the conscience of the bookworm. I'm probably going to reread it. I needed a few days to recover after this baby, so if you have overdue library books waiting for you after this, I suggest you save it for a time you're ready to experience the full on power of Brook's unbelievable crime fiction.
5 full stars. No questions asked.
January 2, 2020
Picked up on a whim from a charity shop in the smallest historic county in England, I think I assumed this would be more Chris Brookmyre / Colin Bateman in nature than it was. When it came to add the book to my TBR list a couple of days later, I realised I'd read a Kevin Brooks previously ('Kiss The Rain') and I'd not really enjoyed it. I was consequently pessimistic.
It wasn't as bad as anticipated. The novel follows a sixteen year-old lad and the fall out from a drink/drug addled night at the fair with friends, after which a local celebrity is found dead and the narrator's odd mate goes missing. The plot kept me interested and keen to read on, and there were many moments where I found the young man's POV convincing, as well as some of the complexities of teenage relationships.
But perhaps it would have been more enjoyable had the story been written by a different author. I found some of the reminders of how mixed up it feels to be sixteen made for uncomfortable reading, I wasn't wholly on board with some of the twists and unconvincing behaviour of the characters at times. It also stylistically felt a bit too YA for my tastes.
It wasn't as bad as anticipated. The novel follows a sixteen year-old lad and the fall out from a drink/drug addled night at the fair with friends, after which a local celebrity is found dead and the narrator's odd mate goes missing. The plot kept me interested and keen to read on, and there were many moments where I found the young man's POV convincing, as well as some of the complexities of teenage relationships.
But perhaps it would have been more enjoyable had the story been written by a different author. I found some of the reminders of how mixed up it feels to be sixteen made for uncomfortable reading, I wasn't wholly on board with some of the twists and unconvincing behaviour of the characters at times. It also stylistically felt a bit too YA for my tastes.
March 1, 2025
Uno di quei romanzi che ci si ostina a catalogare come Young Adult solo perché ha, come protagonisti, degli adolescenti…le tematiche, forti, che esplora, tuttavia, sarebbero più facilmente assimilabili da un lettore adulto, per i risvolti drammatici che comportano. La storia prende l’avvio con la scomparsa di un ragazzone, il classico “sfigato” del gruppo di amici al quale il protagonista, Pete, figlio di un poliziotto della cittadina, è tuttavia molto affezionato; poco dopo scompare anche Stella, un’altra ragazza dello stesso gruppo di amici. Il tutto avviene in una sola notte al locale luna park, dopo una festa a base di chissà cosa.
Le prime 100-150 pagine del romanzo catturano e non mollano con facilità. Kevin Brooks, la cui abilità di creare trame mystery avevo apprezzato leggendo “Bunker Diary”, qui ci infila di tutto e di più, abuso di alcool e droghe, tesi rapporti genitoriali, abuso, omosessualità: si saltella tra stereotipi e ostici temi attuali e si va avanti con curiosità per capire che fine hanno fatto Raymond e Stella.
Alla fine la curiosità inizia a scemare, forse a causa della poca credibilità di certi fati e di certe azioni e si arriva alle ultime pagine capendo a metà ciò che è successo…ok per Stella, ma Raymond? Raymond resta in un buco nero dall’inizio alla fine, un povero personaggio forse sfigato anche agli occhi dell’autore.
Quattro stelle comunque, perché Kevin Brooks intrattiene bene e narra più che discretamente.
Le prime 100-150 pagine del romanzo catturano e non mollano con facilità. Kevin Brooks, la cui abilità di creare trame mystery avevo apprezzato leggendo “Bunker Diary”, qui ci infila di tutto e di più, abuso di alcool e droghe, tesi rapporti genitoriali, abuso, omosessualità: si saltella tra stereotipi e ostici temi attuali e si va avanti con curiosità per capire che fine hanno fatto Raymond e Stella.
Alla fine la curiosità inizia a scemare, forse a causa della poca credibilità di certi fati e di certe azioni e si arriva alle ultime pagine capendo a metà ciò che è successo…ok per Stella, ma Raymond? Raymond resta in un buco nero dall’inizio alla fine, un povero personaggio forse sfigato anche agli occhi dell’autore.
Quattro stelle comunque, perché Kevin Brooks intrattiene bene e narra più che discretamente.
July 29, 2009
Title: Black Rabbit Summer
Author: Keven Brooks
Publisher: Chicken House (Scholastic)
Date Published: 2008
Genre: Young Adult
Main Themes: Missing persons, Friendship, Growing up, Drugs and Alcohol
Pages: 488
Plot (from book jacket):
"As kids they were tight. Now they've grown up - and apart. Before going their separate ways for good, they decide to get together one last time.
Just like old times.
Just the five of them.
Saturday night.
Nicole asked. How could Pete say no?
But the past hurts, personal histories, soon surface, and the party's over. The group splinters off into the darkness. Into the noise and heat and chaos of the summer carnival.
Days later, a girl goes missing. And each of them is a suspect in her disappearance. Pete doesn't know what to believe. Could one of their own, one of the old gang, be a killer?"
I want to start out by mentioning that I usually don't read books narrated by guys. I don't really know why, but usually I just don't feel as connected to the novel. That said, Black Rabbit Summer might be one of my favorite books. It was absolutely stunning! There was just something so ridiculously deep about it. It might have been the narrator or Brooks himself, but this book simply shines.
It wasn't what I expected really, it was much more than the jacket description lets on. I related to the characters in this book so well. I could see each and every character as someone from my life - someone I went to school with.
The plot involves a bit of a mystery and I honestly had no clue how it would be resovled. There were clues at first, but I had no clue how it would all end up fitting together.
Here is a quote that I read, then went back and reread because I loved it so much (Page 404):
"As I stepped over to the den and crept through the door, I wondered if that's what it was all about. Friends. People you know. People you used to know. People you think you once knew, but you probably never did. You probably knew just part of them, the part of them that was your friend. And the rest, the parts of them that you didn't know - the twisted parts, the untrue parts, the parts you are seeing now - well, back then you just ignored them. But now you can't. Because now you can see it all, and now you know that "back then" wasn't all wonderful and innocent. It was just a time and a place, just like every other time and place. The only difference now is that the things - the people - that belonged to the old time and place aren't here anymore, and things that aren't here anymore don't hurt anymore. The only things that hurt are the things that hurt right now."
Ratings (out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing style: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A)
I loved this book - READ IT! I will definitely be looking into Kevin Brooks' previous books (Lucas, Candy, Being, The Road of the Dead, and more)! I've heard that Lucas is really amazing as well...
Author: Keven Brooks
Publisher: Chicken House (Scholastic)
Date Published: 2008
Genre: Young Adult
Main Themes: Missing persons, Friendship, Growing up, Drugs and Alcohol
Pages: 488
Plot (from book jacket):
"As kids they were tight. Now they've grown up - and apart. Before going their separate ways for good, they decide to get together one last time.
Just like old times.
Just the five of them.
Saturday night.
Nicole asked. How could Pete say no?
But the past hurts, personal histories, soon surface, and the party's over. The group splinters off into the darkness. Into the noise and heat and chaos of the summer carnival.
Days later, a girl goes missing. And each of them is a suspect in her disappearance. Pete doesn't know what to believe. Could one of their own, one of the old gang, be a killer?"
I want to start out by mentioning that I usually don't read books narrated by guys. I don't really know why, but usually I just don't feel as connected to the novel. That said, Black Rabbit Summer might be one of my favorite books. It was absolutely stunning! There was just something so ridiculously deep about it. It might have been the narrator or Brooks himself, but this book simply shines.
It wasn't what I expected really, it was much more than the jacket description lets on. I related to the characters in this book so well. I could see each and every character as someone from my life - someone I went to school with.
The plot involves a bit of a mystery and I honestly had no clue how it would be resovled. There were clues at first, but I had no clue how it would all end up fitting together.
Here is a quote that I read, then went back and reread because I loved it so much (Page 404):
"As I stepped over to the den and crept through the door, I wondered if that's what it was all about. Friends. People you know. People you used to know. People you think you once knew, but you probably never did. You probably knew just part of them, the part of them that was your friend. And the rest, the parts of them that you didn't know - the twisted parts, the untrue parts, the parts you are seeing now - well, back then you just ignored them. But now you can't. Because now you can see it all, and now you know that "back then" wasn't all wonderful and innocent. It was just a time and a place, just like every other time and place. The only difference now is that the things - the people - that belonged to the old time and place aren't here anymore, and things that aren't here anymore don't hurt anymore. The only things that hurt are the things that hurt right now."
Ratings (out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing style: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A)
I loved this book - READ IT! I will definitely be looking into Kevin Brooks' previous books (Lucas, Candy, Being, The Road of the Dead, and more)! I've heard that Lucas is really amazing as well...
December 2, 2015
I thought I was going to like this book the first three hundred pages or so. Sure, the narrator isn't exactly likeable, but he makes you want to keep reading in the hope of finding out what happens to his best friend Raymond. The book makes you think this is what it's actually about. However, it becomes much more centered around all its little rabbit trails (pun intended)-Stella, Eric and Campbell, Nic, etc. Not only does the entire direction of the book shift, none of my questions are remotely answered.
What happens to Raymond? Who kills his rabbit? Is the man with the mustache real, and, if so, what does he have to do with anything? Why does Stella threaten Pete? Why is Pete depressed and does it actually matter?
Early on, I had this idea that Pete and Raymond might be the same person, and the whole purpose of this book is Pete's discovery of that, but, if this is the case, it is muddled entirely. The final pages cannot really be called an ending. All of it seems pointless.
What happens to Raymond? Who kills his rabbit? Is the man with the mustache real, and, if so, what does he have to do with anything? Why does Stella threaten Pete? Why is Pete depressed and does it actually matter?
Early on, I had this idea that Pete and Raymond might be the same person, and the whole purpose of this book is Pete's discovery of that, but, if this is the case, it is muddled entirely. The final pages cannot really be called an ending. All of it seems pointless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2015
SERIOUSLY?! Perché questo romanzo non ha un seguito? Dov'è il mio finale Kevin Brooks, ah?!
Il libro mi è veramente piaciuto ma più le pagine e si assottigliavano più mi rendevo conto che scoprire la fine di Raymond era impossibile e di fatti scopriamo che fine fanno TUTTI tranne Raymond, Raymond che è il protagonista indiscusso di questa storia. Il narratore è Pete ma il protagonista è Raymond, l'unico personaggio di cui alla fine mi fregasse davvero qualcosa. Mi bastava anche una sola riga a fine libro che mi dicesse "è vivo" o altre menate simili ed invece no. Il silenzio. E così da quattro stelline precipita a tre. DAMN.
Tanta la frustrazione che ho letteralmente buttato il libro sul letto, JSYK.
Il libro mi è veramente piaciuto ma più le pagine e si assottigliavano più mi rendevo conto che scoprire la fine di Raymond era impossibile e di fatti scopriamo che fine fanno TUTTI tranne Raymond, Raymond che è il protagonista indiscusso di questa storia. Il narratore è Pete ma il protagonista è Raymond, l'unico personaggio di cui alla fine mi fregasse davvero qualcosa. Mi bastava anche una sola riga a fine libro che mi dicesse "è vivo" o altre menate simili ed invece no. Il silenzio. E così da quattro stelline precipita a tre. DAMN.
Tanta la frustrazione che ho letteralmente buttato il libro sul letto, JSYK.
December 17, 2015
Questo libro l'avevo adocchiato in libreria tempo fa e, dopo qualche mese, finalmente sono riuscita ad averlo! (Grazie alle mie amiche che me l'hanno regalato)
La trama mi ispirava davvero tanto, ma anche ciò che è scritto all'interno della copertina:
"Allora eravamo amici.
C'erano legami tra noi.
Ma allora le cose erano diverse. Noi eravamo diversi.
Eravamo bambini. Poi a poco a poco tutto era cambiato.
Il mondo diventa più grande, ci si perde di vista, gli amici di infanzia diventano
"amici che conoscevi".
Sì, li conosci ancora, li vedi a scuola tutti i giorni, ma non sono più quelli che erano.
Non tutto cambia, però.
Raymond e io non eravamo mai cambiati.
Il nostro mondo non era mai diventato più grande.
Noi eravamo sempre rimasti amici.
Lo eravamo stati prima degli altri, con gli altri e senza gli altri.
E per tanti versi lo eravamo nonostante gli altri."
Non so perché ma queste introduzioni in prima persona mi affascinano!
Il libro mi ha coinvolta moltissimo: dalla sera al luna park tra amici alla scoperta dei colpevoli delle scomparse il passo è molto breve.
Le pagine continuavano a girare e in poco tempo mi sono ritrovata alla fine!
E' uno dei pochi libri che davvero si legge tutto d'un fiato!
La narrazione è scorrevole, senza mai risultare noiosa.
Riguardo al finale mi aspettavo sia il colpo di scena (che c'è), sia il ritrovamento di entrambe le persone, ma ahimè se ne ritrova solo una.
Qui il narratore (Pete) parla cosa è successo dopo il colpo di scena, accaduto mesi prima.
Come conclusione è stata buona direi! Naturalmente una volta iniziato il capitolo in cui le cose pian piano vengono a galla, non mi sono più fermata!
Questo libro è entrato senza difficoltà tra i miei preferiti! Un punto a suo favore, oltre al contenuto, è anche la copertina, che trovo meravigliosa!
Se vi capita di averlo tra le mani, datemi ascolto, leggetelo!
La trama mi ispirava davvero tanto, ma anche ciò che è scritto all'interno della copertina:
"Allora eravamo amici.
C'erano legami tra noi.
Ma allora le cose erano diverse. Noi eravamo diversi.
Eravamo bambini. Poi a poco a poco tutto era cambiato.
Il mondo diventa più grande, ci si perde di vista, gli amici di infanzia diventano
"amici che conoscevi".
Sì, li conosci ancora, li vedi a scuola tutti i giorni, ma non sono più quelli che erano.
Non tutto cambia, però.
Raymond e io non eravamo mai cambiati.
Il nostro mondo non era mai diventato più grande.
Noi eravamo sempre rimasti amici.
Lo eravamo stati prima degli altri, con gli altri e senza gli altri.
E per tanti versi lo eravamo nonostante gli altri."
Non so perché ma queste introduzioni in prima persona mi affascinano!
Il libro mi ha coinvolta moltissimo: dalla sera al luna park tra amici alla scoperta dei colpevoli delle scomparse il passo è molto breve.
Le pagine continuavano a girare e in poco tempo mi sono ritrovata alla fine!
E' uno dei pochi libri che davvero si legge tutto d'un fiato!
La narrazione è scorrevole, senza mai risultare noiosa.
Riguardo al finale mi aspettavo sia il colpo di scena (che c'è), sia il ritrovamento di entrambe le persone, ma ahimè se ne ritrova solo una.
Qui il narratore (Pete) parla cosa è successo dopo il colpo di scena, accaduto mesi prima.
Come conclusione è stata buona direi! Naturalmente una volta iniziato il capitolo in cui le cose pian piano vengono a galla, non mi sono più fermata!
Questo libro è entrato senza difficoltà tra i miei preferiti! Un punto a suo favore, oltre al contenuto, è anche la copertina, che trovo meravigliosa!
Se vi capita di averlo tra le mani, datemi ascolto, leggetelo!
November 9, 2021
I feel like I’m never going to get over this book. It was so cruel and haunting and I loved it but it also broke my heart. Kevin Brooks is a true genius when it comes to creating an atmosphere that completely sucks you in and I’m still thinking about the ending, probably always will.
October 12, 2017
4 stars
RTC I need to process my feelings
RTC I need to process my feelings
June 26, 2021
Ein sehr starkes Buch mit packender, realistischer Geschichte. Hinterlässt einen Kloß im Hals
February 1, 2023
surprised.
June 24, 2023
I don't know, I just like this book because it feels so real. Kevin Brooks always makes you experience everything that's happening in the story with so much emotion.
March 2, 2019
See the full review on my blog: bloggerbooks.net
This book was intense. The cover certainly did mind pointing that out, but nevertheless, this book was gripping.
The title alone leaves you wondering what will happen in this book and let me assure you, it will makes sense. Yes, there is a black rabbit.
The Plot
The book started off kind of slow, but I didn’t mind because the story itself and the characters were fascinating. It never got really fast, it basically follows Pete around that night and deals with his struggles of his missing friend, his search and then his part in the investigation: the police questioning him, but also his own assumptions and actions to find out the truth.
The great thing was that you didn’t know the characters well and neither did Pete. He soon realizes that he actually didn’t really know his former friends and can therefore not judge or calculate their behavior.
I also really enjoyed the complexity of this story starting off with Pete’s slow summer, then the crew getting back together, everyone alone at the carnival all playing their parts in the story and then later on Pete trying to solve his friend’s disappearance and connect it to the missing girl whom they all know as well.
The great part was the step by step story of Pete solving the case. I never new very much and neither did Pete, he simply followed bread crumbs and pieced the story together until the moment where everything was suddenly clear and made sense.
The ending was a little disappointing, but I never been not just a tiny bit disappointed whenever I read a mystery. Another thing driving me crazy is that the book ends as a cliffhanger. I have no enormous problems with open ends but I really would love to know what happened…
Summary
All in all, I can recommend this book to everyone who loves complex and mysterious characters and who values a great, wise and realistic story, The end leaves you mind-blown and you want to read more. Pete is an incredibly smart character and Kevin Brooks is an incredibly talented writer.
This book was intense. The cover certainly did mind pointing that out, but nevertheless, this book was gripping.
The title alone leaves you wondering what will happen in this book and let me assure you, it will makes sense. Yes, there is a black rabbit.
The Plot
The book started off kind of slow, but I didn’t mind because the story itself and the characters were fascinating. It never got really fast, it basically follows Pete around that night and deals with his struggles of his missing friend, his search and then his part in the investigation: the police questioning him, but also his own assumptions and actions to find out the truth.
The great thing was that you didn’t know the characters well and neither did Pete. He soon realizes that he actually didn’t really know his former friends and can therefore not judge or calculate their behavior.
I also really enjoyed the complexity of this story starting off with Pete’s slow summer, then the crew getting back together, everyone alone at the carnival all playing their parts in the story and then later on Pete trying to solve his friend’s disappearance and connect it to the missing girl whom they all know as well.
The great part was the step by step story of Pete solving the case. I never new very much and neither did Pete, he simply followed bread crumbs and pieced the story together until the moment where everything was suddenly clear and made sense.
The ending was a little disappointing, but I never been not just a tiny bit disappointed whenever I read a mystery. Another thing driving me crazy is that the book ends as a cliffhanger. I have no enormous problems with open ends but I really would love to know what happened…
Summary
All in all, I can recommend this book to everyone who loves complex and mysterious characters and who values a great, wise and realistic story, The end leaves you mind-blown and you want to read more. Pete is an incredibly smart character and Kevin Brooks is an incredibly talented writer.
May 11, 2018
Given that this was a bit of a slow starter with a bit of an 'meh' ending you may be surprised to learn that I actually really enjoyed it.
A part coming of age, part crime, novel with twists and turns galore. A tale about the chaos of adolescence, marketed at the teen/young adult market; (without giving too much away) its main characters are teenagers (the main protagonist a 'typical apathetic' teenager), there's a secret den, there's a fair ground, there's illicit drug taking, there's violence, there's the drinking of alcohol until you vomit. Things many young adults will have an understanding of and yet, hard hitting (the sense of menace is palpable, the kids from the 'estate' as frightening as any hitman), it may well surprise more mature readers just how much they will enjoy it ... after all a cracking murder mystery is a cracking murder mystery (and make no mistake Black Rabbit Summer is just that, a cracking murder mystery) no matter what the age of the characters/those the book is marketed at.
At the heart of the novel are five young people at that stage of life when, no longer children, and yet not quite adults, they would rather die than let their parents know what is going on in their lives. As mentioned, there's the apathetic Pete (the narrator of the story), then there's the 'joker', the tragic anti-hero; the good looking but 'moody' one with a secret; the 'object of every boy's desire' (or at least Pete's) and then there's ... well, there's Raymond.
Obsessed with his pet rabbit (the black rabbit of the title), - BE WARNED: along with the violence and other fairly 'grown-up' themes, there is animal cruelty - Raymond, considered odd/'not all there', is a fascinating character. The very fact that there is no real conclusion to his fate my only real gripe with the book.
Copyright ... Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
A part coming of age, part crime, novel with twists and turns galore. A tale about the chaos of adolescence, marketed at the teen/young adult market; (without giving too much away) its main characters are teenagers (the main protagonist a 'typical apathetic' teenager), there's a secret den, there's a fair ground, there's illicit drug taking, there's violence, there's the drinking of alcohol until you vomit. Things many young adults will have an understanding of and yet, hard hitting (the sense of menace is palpable, the kids from the 'estate' as frightening as any hitman), it may well surprise more mature readers just how much they will enjoy it ... after all a cracking murder mystery is a cracking murder mystery (and make no mistake Black Rabbit Summer is just that, a cracking murder mystery) no matter what the age of the characters/those the book is marketed at.
At the heart of the novel are five young people at that stage of life when, no longer children, and yet not quite adults, they would rather die than let their parents know what is going on in their lives. As mentioned, there's the apathetic Pete (the narrator of the story), then there's the 'joker', the tragic anti-hero; the good looking but 'moody' one with a secret; the 'object of every boy's desire' (or at least Pete's) and then there's ... well, there's Raymond.
Obsessed with his pet rabbit (the black rabbit of the title), - BE WARNED: along with the violence and other fairly 'grown-up' themes, there is animal cruelty - Raymond, considered odd/'not all there', is a fascinating character. The very fact that there is no real conclusion to his fate my only real gripe with the book.
Copyright ... Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
February 9, 2024
I did enjoy this book for the most part and it was mysterious and unique enough to keep me thoroughly engaged through the whole story.
One of my favourite aspects of the novel was how gradually the pieces of the mystery were revealed to the main character (and to me as the reader); the slow revelation of the story building up was a lot of fun and did keep me engaged as the story panned out. Additionally, I thought the settings were really well written and I never had trouble with visualising a location (which I find to be rare). I also really liked one of the characters which helped to keep my motivation up and keep me engaged through the book to see how the story played out in regards to them.
Having said this though, there was only one character that I really cared about which did bother me as usually in books a lovable set of characters are important. Although, this wasn’t enough of an issue for me to become disinterested. Looking back, there was also a large section of roughly 100 pages in the middle of the novel where it felt a bit slow and unnecessary, where nothing really happened. However, at the time of reading I didn’t really notice this and it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story at the time either.
As well as this, the twists weren’t especially shocking or unexpected - I saw a couple of them coming from far away, but I still enjoyed the revelation and how that continued to play out in the story, so it didn’t impact my reading experience too much.
All in all, I think of this novel more positively than negatively: it was interesting, unique and drew me in really quickly. Although I’m unlikely to reread this book soon I would still recommend it, especially to those who like a YA mystery.
One of my favourite aspects of the novel was how gradually the pieces of the mystery were revealed to the main character (and to me as the reader); the slow revelation of the story building up was a lot of fun and did keep me engaged as the story panned out. Additionally, I thought the settings were really well written and I never had trouble with visualising a location (which I find to be rare). I also really liked one of the characters which helped to keep my motivation up and keep me engaged through the book to see how the story played out in regards to them.
Having said this though, there was only one character that I really cared about which did bother me as usually in books a lovable set of characters are important. Although, this wasn’t enough of an issue for me to become disinterested. Looking back, there was also a large section of roughly 100 pages in the middle of the novel where it felt a bit slow and unnecessary, where nothing really happened. However, at the time of reading I didn’t really notice this and it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story at the time either.
As well as this, the twists weren’t especially shocking or unexpected - I saw a couple of them coming from far away, but I still enjoyed the revelation and how that continued to play out in the story, so it didn’t impact my reading experience too much.
All in all, I think of this novel more positively than negatively: it was interesting, unique and drew me in really quickly. Although I’m unlikely to reread this book soon I would still recommend it, especially to those who like a YA mystery.
February 4, 2018
In un periodo costellato da letture molto impegnative che a rilento arrivano alla conclusione, si presenta l’estate del coniglio nero, scelto nel club di lettura come prossimo appuntamento. Un libro fresco sul quale la lettura scivola veloce portandomi velocemente in quello stato di necessità/bisogno tipico dei libri che mi catturano fin dall’inizio.
Con una buona dose di suspance, mistero e noir Brooks porta il lettore a conoscere i bassifondi di una cittadina inglese che altro non rappresenta lo spaccato moderno del paesotto. Di facciata tutto più o meno perfetto, il dietro le quinte invece lascia un po’ a desiderare.
Il libro è farcito con tutti gli ingredienti necessari e vorrei dire scontati, di un noir. Il teppistello, la bella, la star, il problematico e lo strano. A contorno una cittadina che come tante altre vive e respira ignorando la vera natura dei propri abitanti.
Fortunatamente Brooks riesce nel difficile compito di dosare gli aspetti scontati di questo genere di storia con una giusta sequenza temporale degli eventi. Il risultato come dicevo prima è un libro fresco e di suspance che porta il lettore ad una conclusione ahimè alquanto deludente.
Non solo alcuni personaggi degni di nota non vengono approfonditi, ma altri principali vengono liquidati a fine libro senza troppi fronzoli lasciando un gusto di incompiuto al lettore.
Con una buona dose di suspance, mistero e noir Brooks porta il lettore a conoscere i bassifondi di una cittadina inglese che altro non rappresenta lo spaccato moderno del paesotto. Di facciata tutto più o meno perfetto, il dietro le quinte invece lascia un po’ a desiderare.
Il libro è farcito con tutti gli ingredienti necessari e vorrei dire scontati, di un noir. Il teppistello, la bella, la star, il problematico e lo strano. A contorno una cittadina che come tante altre vive e respira ignorando la vera natura dei propri abitanti.
Fortunatamente Brooks riesce nel difficile compito di dosare gli aspetti scontati di questo genere di storia con una giusta sequenza temporale degli eventi. Il risultato come dicevo prima è un libro fresco e di suspance che porta il lettore ad una conclusione ahimè alquanto deludente.
Non solo alcuni personaggi degni di nota non vengono approfonditi, ma altri principali vengono liquidati a fine libro senza troppi fronzoli lasciando un gusto di incompiuto al lettore.
October 26, 2023
L’estate del coniglio nero è il secondo libro che leggo di Kevin Brooks, dato l’amore provato per il primo libro ero curiosa di scoprire se questo amore fosse dovuto alla bravura dello scrittore o alla potenza dell’argomento.
Non mi sono ancora data una risposta però.
Questo libro mi ha tenuto molta compagnia i personaggi sono ben fatti, l’autore ti fa odiare chi decide lui e ti fa apprezzare chi vuole lui.
La scrittura è scorrevolissima e piacevole , le pagine scorrono senza rendersene conto, se non avessi avuto impegni l’avrei finito molto prima del previsto questo libro.
La trama mi aveva intrigato molto ma ad oggi ,dopo averlo letto , molte cose non mi sono chiare della storia ho ancora dei punti interrogativi che per un lettore sono una cosa terribile.
Non ci vuole molto a capire chi è stato ad uccidere Stella quindi il finale mi ha lasciata un po’ con l’amaro in bocca. Stanotte andrò a dormire con un quesito : Ma Raymond? Bah.
Consiglio questo libro per chi vuole leggere una cosa leggera senza pretese e veloce.
Malgrado le mie perplessità dico che non è un capolavoro, ma è un buon libro e merita di essere letto.
Non mi sono ancora data una risposta però.
Questo libro mi ha tenuto molta compagnia i personaggi sono ben fatti, l’autore ti fa odiare chi decide lui e ti fa apprezzare chi vuole lui.
La scrittura è scorrevolissima e piacevole , le pagine scorrono senza rendersene conto, se non avessi avuto impegni l’avrei finito molto prima del previsto questo libro.
La trama mi aveva intrigato molto ma ad oggi ,dopo averlo letto , molte cose non mi sono chiare della storia ho ancora dei punti interrogativi che per un lettore sono una cosa terribile.
Non ci vuole molto a capire chi è stato ad uccidere Stella quindi il finale mi ha lasciata un po’ con l’amaro in bocca. Stanotte andrò a dormire con un quesito : Ma Raymond? Bah.
Consiglio questo libro per chi vuole leggere una cosa leggera senza pretese e veloce.
Malgrado le mie perplessità dico che non è un capolavoro, ma è un buon libro e merita di essere letto.
October 6, 2009
I love the way Brooks writes. I had to make myself go to bed at 3:00am but couldn't wait to wake and finish this book. He has a way of making you turn the page and forget time...that's bad for me...I should be doing other things but I love getting lost in his works.
I have to admit...I usually hate mysteries, I'm a thriller reader, so when I saw this was down as a mystery, I was hesitate. I really didn't want to give Brooks a bad review. This book was the first mystery that kept me guessing until the end, and mixed with the thrill involved, I was hooked and satisfied. He gets 5 stars because of that.
Would I let a young teen read this book...NO...way to much language and the violence involved was a bit much for young minds. I actually complained to our local library that the book was rated, 12 and up. This was more of an adult book than YA book in my mind.
I have to admit...I usually hate mysteries, I'm a thriller reader, so when I saw this was down as a mystery, I was hesitate. I really didn't want to give Brooks a bad review. This book was the first mystery that kept me guessing until the end, and mixed with the thrill involved, I was hooked and satisfied. He gets 5 stars because of that.
Would I let a young teen read this book...NO...way to much language and the violence involved was a bit much for young minds. I actually complained to our local library that the book was rated, 12 and up. This was more of an adult book than YA book in my mind.
August 11, 2011
It started out interesting but it felt like the author was trying to be too obvious with the clues as to who was guilty and who wasn't. Like he treated us like we were too dumb to figure it out. I will admit I didn't quite figure out the murder, but all the other things they were wondering were so blatantly obvious. And the ending felt like a rip off. Like Brooks was trying to be original but he just left it unfinished.
July 12, 2016
Finalmente un thriller come si deve! la storia è avvincente e ben costruita, il protagonista mi è piaciuto molto. A tratti è davvero inquietante e, anche se la fine non mi ha soddisfatta completamente, sicuramente merita. Il metodo di scrittura è molto interessante, l'autore è stato davvero bravo a trasmettere certe sensazioni e stai d'animo!
April 19, 2018
I didn’t really know what to expect when I started reading this book but I liked it even though it isn’t my usual type of book. The story was interesting although I found all the lying tedious and a bit pointlessly tacked on to add drama. I wasn’t keen on the ending but I’m hard to please when it comes to endings. It was a pretty good read all in all
October 7, 2021
Il ritmo di questo romanzo è praticamente perfetto.
Lento all'inizio, come l'inizio dell'estate e l'adolescenza. Poi accelerato e indimenticabile: un thriller degno di questo nome.
Unico appunto: il finale. Non mi ha convinto del tutto la faccenda di Raymond. O meglio, ne ho capito l'intento ma da lettrice odio le cose che non si concludono e non si spiegano!
Lento all'inizio, come l'inizio dell'estate e l'adolescenza. Poi accelerato e indimenticabile: un thriller degno di questo nome.
Unico appunto: il finale. Non mi ha convinto del tutto la faccenda di Raymond. O meglio, ne ho capito l'intento ma da lettrice odio le cose che non si concludono e non si spiegano!
November 4, 2013
I fear nothing else Brooks has written will ever match the brilliance of Martyn Pig.
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